DANCE TO LIVE

Michael Parmenter MNZM, has been a giant in the New Zealand contemporary dance scene for decades.

Dancer, choreographer, teacher, Arts Foundation Laureate 2010, and creator of magnificent dance theatre works, Michael has interpreted some of life’s most challenging themes, incorporating Greek myths, Biblical stories and New Zealand history.

A recent collaboration with Lucy Marinkovich, presented at the New Zealand Arts Festival 2020 and again at the Auckland Arts Festival in 2021, was inspired by the intriguing tale of a dance plague that beset the French town of Strasbourg in 1518 when the citizens came out of their homes and danced in the streets for days - as if entranced. But this was a rebellion of sorts – a peoples’ rising against injustice and power imbalance - a dance of the times, a dance for life.

Parmenter has become a student of this connection of people and dance and its potential to powerfully impact our sense of community and humanity. Already an experienced Tango dancer, other forms of social dance have become his most recent passion. While working on his PhD at the Paris Sorbonne, he discovered Balfolk – a contemporised form of folk dancing that is having a renaissance in Europe as people recognise the need in a digital world to rebuild real connection with each other.

Each year in July thousands of people of all ages and shapes converge on a small village in central France for a week-long dance festival of workshops and balls. Le Grand Bal is an opportunity to dance almost 24/7 and enjoy the physical and psychological benefits of being part of a community of dancers.

Parmenter is now teaching these varied forms of traditional partner dances such as the mazurka, waltz, the Cajun 2 step, and group dances which can be joyfully chaotic or lyrical or hypnotically peaceful, like the elegant schottische, the gavotte, and up-tempo bourrée. All these dances are technically uncomplicated and accessible to anyone with right and left feet and the music is invigorating and irresistible.

While a stigma perhaps still surrounds folk music and dance – as if it is old-fashioned and a bit prim – nothing could be further from the reality of Michael Parmenter’s Balfolk classes. Relaxed, friendly and unselfconscious, laughter is guaranteed.

And no national costumes in sight! Street clothes and shoes are the go, and as much energy as can be mustered make dance for the people in its truest form.

Parmenter has spent the last six months in Dunedin on a Carolyn Plummer Fellowship exploring the New Zealand culture of social dance and has discovered a thriving scene in the university city. But Auckland has a strong history of social dance too; Parmenter was fascinated to learn the story of tea dances in a Whatipu cave in the early years of the 20th century where a wooden dance floor was hoisted above the tideline and dancers came from all over the city to enjoy lively afternoons dancing.

Now that he is back in Auckland he looks forward to rebooting weekly Balfolk classes in mid-February and reinvigorating a dance culture that brings people together and builds community - a people’s revolution of movement perhaps. (CAIT MCLENNAN WHYTE)  PN

Details: Balfolk Auckland classes will be held at St Stephen’s on Jervois Road on Monday evenings 7pm – 8:30pm starting from 20 February. Visit Facebook balfolkaotearoa or email: balfolkauckland@gmail.com

BALFOLKINO

“ We are going to inaugurate the New Year of dancing with BALFOLKINO, a very special day of workshops and a Folk Ball with touring Italian ensemble Lyradanz” says Parmenter. These celebrated musicians who specialise in a wide range of the Balfolk dances are currently touring New Zealand in their alternate guise of Ensemble Sangineto. This trio’s fantastic music is anchored in the stupendous harp playing of Adriano and the incomparable voice of twin sister Caterina. The sound of this all-in-the-family ensemble is rounded out by Caterina’s husband Jacopo. They will join forces with Parmenter and Balfolk Dunedin director Kate Grace for a series of workshops on February 18. The day’s dancing, commencing 10.00am in the lovely Blockhouse Bay Boat Club, will finish with a Folk Ball called by Parmenter and accompanied by the irresistible music of Lyradanz.

For more information Facebook: balfolkaotearoa or balfolkauckland@gmail.com

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